A West Orange High School Graduate’s Experience Studying Abroad in Japan And Why You Should Consider It

How can I describe my study abroad experience in one word? I honestly don’t know. But as someone who just studied abroad in Japan and is a recent West Orange High School graduate, I can definitely say it is something college-bound students should take advantage of.

Getting My Wisdom Tooth Extracted for 18 Dollars?!

First, everything in Japan is so cheap compared to America. It amazes me how in America everyone always complains about how expensive every little thing is, while in Japan I never found myself once complaining about any sort of price. An example I can provide you with is how I had to get my wisdom tooth taken out, which only cost me $18, including a prescription. I was so amazed to find out how inexpensive this was compared to America, because Japan has a universal healthcare system that you are required to have.

Cleanliness Really Is Next To Godliness

Another thing that has shocked me about Japan is how clean the whole city of Tokyo was. When I would walk to school every day, I was amazed at how clean the streets and sidewalks were. Spotless. No trash anywhere, and you need to carry your trash. You must walk with your garbage and wait to go to a designated area to throw it out. You also cannot eat and walk around with food. You have to eat in front of a store like 7/11 and throw it out. They always have street cleaners keeping the sidewalk and roads clean and bacteria free.

Technology, Exercise, And Safety Are Built In

The three things that caught my eye the most were technology, exercise, and safety. First, the exercise is nowhere near close to anything you can think of in America. They have designed walking and bike lanes for all pedestrians. Due to all this walking I was doing, I have noticed I have lost 2-3 pounds within my semester there. My commute every day was about an hour by train, so I had to do a lot of walking to the station, transferring lines, and walking to university. Next the technology is far more superior. For instance, when I would go to Kura sushi, I wouldn’t need a waiter or anyone to help me. I would get a table to sit at from the tablet, go to my table, order off the tablet, and the food would immediately come to me without anyone having to help me. It was astonishing. Lastly, the safety was the most impressive to me as I never felt unsafe. For example, I could walk out and go to a Lawson or 7/11 at 3 am if I were ever hungry, something I could never imagine doing back home.

The Culture Shock of Portion Sizes

The food in Japan is what I’m currently missing the most while writing this article. I would’ve never thought that was gonna be the case until I had a Five Guys burger and fries two days after I came back home. One thing that surprised me was how small the portion sizes were. It felt like every time I ate a bowl of rice or a side of fried chicken, I still felt hungry. Most of the time, you might find you have to order another bowl or sandwich just because of how small the portion sizes are compared to America. Anytime I would walk into KFC or McDonald’s, I would have to order two sandwiches because one would be way too small for me.

Introversion is the New Extroversion.

I feel more introverted than ever coming back from this trip, which is something I am surprised about because I never really thought of this before embarking on this trip. Japan is known as a nation where most of its people feel very lonely and have high suicide rates. The majority of people keep to themselves and never feel free to open up, especially older Japanese people. There are even rental girlfriends or rent-a-family services provided here that make you feel less lonely. They have designated one person seating for most people in Japan at restaurants, like their own bubble, for them to sit at, which I found to be very convenient. Overall, Quiet fills the air.

As someone who just came back from studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, for a semester, absolutely do it. It will open your eyes to a whole new world and experiences that will be in your heart for the rest of your life.